Spreading compassion from Hai Phong to Russia
For 15 years, the Association of Hai Phong Fellow-countrymen in the Russian Federation has been a spiritual anchor connecting expatriates and spreading compassion toward their homeland.
Toward the motherland
In October 2025, when consecutive storms and floods devastated the central region of Vietnam, the Association of Hai Phong Fellow-countrymen in the Russian Federation quickly responded to the call of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, raising 38 million VND to support people in flood-hit areas.
Looking back on its journey, humanitarian activities have always been the association’s hallmark. Established in October 2010 on a voluntary basis, the association has steadily consolidated its organization and united overseas Hai Phong natives in building a strong community abroad.
Since 2011, the association and its members have contributed more than 700 million VND to social welfare programs in the homeland, including gifts for orphans, elderly people living alone, victims of Agent Orange, etc.
In September 2024, after Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi), the association continued to raise more than 70 million VND to help Hai Phong overcome the consequences of the disaster. In the fundraising campaign to support the Cuban people last August, the association also donated 28 million VND.
Alongside humanitarian activities, the association has devoted considerable attention to Vietnam’s sea and islands. From 2011 to 2017, the association and its members contributed hundreds of millions of VND to support soldiers and residents in the Truong Sa archipelago, the coast guard, and programs launched by the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia. Many association officials directly joined visits to Truong Sa and DK1 platform and gave gifts to schoolchildren on islands, spreading love for the homeland’s sea and islands among the overseas Hai Phong community.
The shared home of overseas Hai Phong natives
In Russia, community events such as the anniversary of Hai Phong’s Liberation Day on May 13, National Day on September 2, Vietnamese Women’s Day on October 20, and the traditional Lunar New Year festival always draw hundreds of participants. These are occasions to connect, preserve Vietnamese identity, and maintain Vietnamese language for younger generations.
The association pays special attention to the third generation - children of overseas Vietnamese born and raised in Russia. Every year, the association commends dozens of students with outstanding achievements. For families with children studying in Vietnam, the association maintains a similar support network through its liaison board in the homeland. Small gifts such as mooncakes or Vietnamese language books are offered as a way to preserve cultural roots.
The association is also a source of support for overseas Hai Phong natives in times of hardship like assisting seriously ill individuals, helping families of the deceased, handling legal procedures, and raising funds to repatriate ashes. Each supported case receives between 5,000 and 10,000 USD.
All activities are based on voluntary contributions from the overseas community, ranging from 500 – 1,000 rubles to tens of millions of VND. The entire fund is publicly disclosed, ensuring transparency and building trust within the community. These achievements stem from the exemplary leadership of the Executive Committee and the solidarity of Hai Phong people in the Russian Federation. Their meaningful efforts show that the community not only stands united abroad but also consistently contributes to the homeland through compassionate actions.
With the persistent efforts of the Executive Committee, the association has helped promote the image of Hai Phong people as caring and responsible. Last May, the association received a certificate of merit from the Hai Phong People’s Committee for its significant contributions to the city’s development and overseas Vietnamese affairs.
TUE MINH